Throughout Western Canada, numerous aboriginal art galleries cater to those on the hunt for native work. Each of these institutions can function as an integral component to any group experience in their respective locales.
Bill Reid Gallery
www.billreidgallery.ca
One of Canada’s iconic artists, Bill Reid is the subject of numerous books, exhibitions, documentaries and online portals, although it was not until 2008 that a specific facility devoted to his creations emerged: Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art in Vancouver. Reid was also a jeweler, metalsmith, illustrator, printmaker, storyteller, radio broadcaster and canoe-builder, and the gallery features an overarching encapsulation of his life’s work, including Mythic Messengers, a 25-foot-long bronze frieze. The gallery is always available for private functions and events.
Winnipeg Art Gallery
http://wag.ca
The Winnipeg Art Gallery features the largest collection of Inuit art in the world, which the venue has been collecting since 1957. In fact, the award-winning American architect Michael Maltzan has been selected to design a new Inuit Art and Learning Centre to permanently house the collection. Included in the property is the Muriel Richardson Auditorium, one of the finest lecture and concert halls in Winnipeg, a prime spot for meetings, seminars, conferences or group functions. Other spaces include a lecture hall, a boardroom, a penthouse and a rooftop sculpture garden.
Moonstone Creation Native Gallery and Gift Shop
www.moonstonecreation.ca
In Calgary, Moonstone Creation is a nexus for several endeavors. It provides sacred wedding ceremonies, makes shoes and commissions work from aboriginal artists. It stages beadwork classes and puts together gift packages for corporate clients. The actual shop offers clothing, artwork, greeting cards, native bags, drums, jewelry and more. Moonstone is a great supplier and connection for any native component to a group event.
Royal Alberta Museum
www.royalalbertamuseum.ca
The Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton features, among other components, the Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture, occupying 10,000 square feet, a quarter of the museum’s permanent gallery space. More than 3,000 artifacts are on display, representing thousands of years of First Nations civilization from across the province. The museum itself features a 417-seat theater and several other spaces for groups or corporate functions.
